Analysis: Gritty and sweet derby win keeps Aston Villa looking up

Having experienced VAR-induced frustration against Brighton and West Ham in their previous two matches, on Saturday the late twist went in favour of Dean Smith and his team as Anwar El Ghazi, something of a forgotten man this season, lashed home from the penalty spot to steal the sweetest of derby victories.

Sweet because some might argue it was not entirely deserved, while also precious, as it ensured the focus remains entirely on what is above them in the Premier League table, rather than anything going on below.

Ultimately, it was a win earned because Villa held their nerve in a match where the dominating presence was referee Mike Dean’s yellow card, which reduced Smith’s team to 10 men after it was shown to Douglas Luiz for the second time with 85 minutes played.

At that moment a draw looked a more than acceptable result for the visitors. Yet Villa pushed on, ignored the instinct to sit back and when their moment arrived deep into stoppage time, grasped it to claim a fourth win in five away days this term. Smith’s men have already picked up more points on the road than they did in the whole of last season.

This performance saw a return to the discipline and grit which underpinned Villa’s best work during the early weeks of the season. Though not as fluent as against either West Ham or Brighton, neither did they offer up the kind of gifts to the opposition which saw both of those displays count for nothing.

In that regard, they also owed a debt to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who excelled on his return to the club where he spent a season on loan in the Championship.

Any questions raised when Villa decided to spend £20million on the Argentine in the summer have long been forgotten. Martinez has now kept five clean sheets in 10 matches for his new club and this was arguably the hardest earned, as he saved from Daniel Podence and Leander Dendoncker in the first half before brilliantly – and most crucially – denying the latter with a superb one-handed reaction save in the second.

That stop, which came shortly after Fabio Silva had hit the post, ensured the match was goalless heading into stoppage time when Nelson Semedo clumsily brought down John McGinn to set the stage for El Ghazi to become the unlikely match-winner.

Whether one well-struck penalty is enough to spark the Dutchman’s Villa career back into life remains to be seen. There was certainly no hiding the irony a day which began with a debate over the strength in depth of Smith’s squad, ended with a player previously limited to just 35 minutes across three substitute appearances as the hero.

Had Trezeguet not been ruled out with injury, it is unlikely El Ghazi would have made it onto the pitch. He eventually did so with 15 minutes to play, replacing Bertrand Traore – the latter having given another performance which suggested he is for now a maverick presence in an otherwise clearly-structured Villa team. Jacob Ramsey, the other man drafted into the line-up, was far steadier on what was his full Premier League debut. Brimming with energy, the 19-year-old showed admirable composure too, not least in stoppage time when his decision to bring the ball down – when others might have booted it clear – led to Joao Moutinho becoming the second man to see Riley’s red card.

There were certainly parallels to draw between this win and Villa’s success at Leicester in October.

Just as then, they spluttered at times as an attacking force. Yet the absence of mistakes meant they remained in position to nick the points at the death. Much as stunning victories over Liverpool and Arsenal delivered statements, it is these kind of tight, gritty triumphs which are essential if they are to realise the ambition of a top-half finish.

On that note, five of Villa’s six wins have come against top-10 teams from last season. Later this week they have the chance to chalk up another when Burnley, 10th last season but struggling this term, come to town.

Had the small margins gone against Villa on Saturday and Wolves emerged the victors, a run of matches against the Clarets, Albion and Crystal Palace over the next fortnight might have been approached with an element of apprehension. A team still less than six months removed from a relegation struggle, who would then have lost five of their previous six, may just have started to feel a little pressure. Instead, confidence and optimism are once more in the ascendancy and Villa head toward Christmas still within striking distance of the division’s pacesetters.

They will face Burnley without Luiz, whose late dismissal capped arguably his most disappointing performance of the campaign.

Smith could be heard urging Riley to check with his video assistant in the immediate aftermath though in truth the card happy official might have done Villa a favour. Replays showed Luiz clearly leading with his arm as he challenged Podence and a VAR review might have deemed it worthy of a straight red, meaning the Brazil international missing three matches rather than one.

With Matty Cash also picking up his fifth booking of the season, the squad depth will again be tested.

Villa also play Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham over the next month and we will soon have a much clearer picture about where this season is heading. Most of the signs, so far, remain encouraging.